Preparing for your interviews: 5 Tips

13 SEP 2017

We highlight 5 tips to help get you started in preparing for your interviews:

1)  Know your resume/CV
Be able to articulate your strengths and weaknesses, as well as which experiences and skills make you a good fit for the job. Consider preparing examples which could set you apart from other applicants. Interviewers like to understand what motivates you, why you are interested in their company and why your experiences make you their ideal candidate.

2)  Talk about your skills
Be prepared to draw upon your experiences and demonstrate your skills in the following areas: leadership, teamwork, professional and academic accomplishments, communications skills and your ability to overcome obstacles and challenges.

3)  Do your research
You should be ready to discuss why you are interested in the industry, locations, and divisions you have selected. It's a good idea to review the employer's careers website and read business-focused websites, magazines and newspapers to stay abreast of economic and political news.

4)  Prepare your answers
Prepare answers for behavioral-type questions. The interviewer will likely ask questions to gauge your thought process and leadership skills. Some examples of these questions include:

  • What project or task have you recently completed that you are proud of?
  • Describe a challenge you have faced and how you overcame that challenge.
  • In hindsight, what steps would you have taken to avoid that challenge?
  • If given a new project that you were unfamiliar with, what would be your strategy to kick-start the project?

5)  Ask questions
Ask appropriate questions to your interviewer and practice both your questions and answers in advance. Have questions ready for the interviewer on topics such as: key changes in the industry, typical job responsibilities, and training and development opportunities. Avoid administrative questions which may put the interviewer on the defensive. An interview is your opportunity for a company to learn about you and for you to learn about a company so it is always important to be yourself.